SEARCH
20,000 Boeing Engineers in Contract Talks and More Bargaining News
More than 20,000 engineers at Boeing have started difficult contract talks, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
NEGOTIATIONS
SPEEA-IFPTE, Boeing: Some 20,300 engineers and technical workers at Boeing, represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA-IFPTE) Local 2001, began negotiations Oct. 29 after eight months of preliminary talks. According to SPEEA Executive Director Ray Goforth, “Early indications are that these will be very difficult negotiations. Engineers and technical workers are the life’s blood of Boeing, but the current regime at corporate headquarters treats them as mere vendors selling a service to Chicago. This disrespect has to end.”
CWA, Qwest: Some 20,000 Qwest workers in 13 states, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), get more time to vote on a proposed four-year contract. Members now have until Nov. 6 to return the ballots because some members reported delays in receiving them. The union plans to announce voting results Nov. 7. Earlier this week, Qwest announced plans to cut 1,200 jobs, or 3.5 percent of its workforce, as it seeks to boost profits amid a tougher economy and adjust to lower demand. That will leave Qwest with about 33,400 employees—half as many as in 2001.
USW, National Oil: Oil workers and members of the United Steelworkers (USW) ratified the 2009 National Oil Bargaining policy and gave strike authorization. Rank-and-file workers created the policy, which contains the union’s bargaining proposals, at the National Oil Bargaining conference in September. “This strong ratification of the oil policy and strike ratification shows how united and determined the membership is in getting a fair contract,” remarked international Vice President Gary Beevers, who heads the union’s National Oil Bargaining program.
TWU, Southwest Airlines: The Transport Workers (TWU) and Southwest Airlines announced plans to ask the National Mediation Board for help in their negotiations. Pay increases are a central issue that have stalled negotiations.
SETTLEMENTS
USW, Northrop Grumman: Some 8,000 workers at Northrop Grumman’s Newport News, Va., shipyards, represented by USW Local 8888, reached a tentative agreement that “accomplishes the union’s main goals, allowing workers to retire after 30 years of service without age restrictions and giving them six days of combined sick and personal leave.”
AFSCME, Rhode Island: In Rhode Island, thousands of rank-and-file members of AFSCME Council 94 approved a new four-year agreement. The contract relieves some of the burden on lower-paid employees by enabling them to pay a lower percentage of their health care premiums and offers a four-year wellness incentive that could reduce medical co-share payments by up to $500 a year for those who agree to such practices as seeing a primary-care physician and quitting smoking.
IUE-CWA, General Motors: In Moraine, Ohio, General Motors (GM) workers, represented by the IUE-CWA Local 798, approved a contract governing the terms and conditions of the looming plant closure. The contract offers workers cash for leaving or retiring. The agreement includes a $3,850 payment to all active members for ratification. Other provisions include: a 3 percent performance bonus retroactive to Sept. 15, 2007, tuition assistance and transfer opportunities to other GM plants.
AFSCME, Eugene: Some 700 Eugene City, Ore., workers, represented by AFSCME Local 1724, reached a four-year tentative agreement that provides a one-time payment of $425 with the increases to be no less than 2 percent and no more than 4 percent or 4.5 percent.
WORK STOPPAGES AND ACTIONS
CNA/NNOC & SEIU, California Hospitals: Yesterday, more than 6,000 health care workers and members of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) went on strike for 24 hours at five Sutter Health facilities, five hospitals owned by Daughters of Charity Health System (DOCHS), and Alliance Clinic, in response to months of alleged unfair labor practices and bad-faith negotiation by hospital management. At three of the Sutter facilities, nurses who are part of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) went on strike in solidarity.
ATU, Port Authority: Some 2,200 members of the Port Authority of Allegheny County drivers’ union, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 85, challenged an agency decision that allows a private bus company to provide shuttle service between a North Side casino and local hotels. Additionally, the union says the authority violated state labor law by imposing a contract Friday without the union’s agreement.
OAPSE-AFSCME, PARTA: A strike by Ohio bus drivers, represented by the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE-AFSCME) Local 037, continues at the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA). The workers, who went on strike in August, are fighting for a fair share clause that would make sure non-members pay their “fair share” of the costs for negotiations and representation they receive from the union. “We continue to remain diligent in fighting for a no-cost item that PARTA simply refuses to negotiation over,” said union spokeswoman Trina Molnar.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only. As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.
 |
Become a Fan on Facebook |  |
Follow Us on Twitter |  |
Subscribe to YouTube |  |
Subscribe to Blog RSS | ||||
No Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
